Wireless sensors system and method of using same

• US 20120046792A1
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evergreen Telemetry LLC
• Original Assignee: Evergreen Telemetry LLC
• Inventors: Secor, Russell P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,605,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/30 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/72 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23136 Display all subsystems, select one and display screen corresponding to subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24084 : Remote and local monitoring, local result to remote, remote takes action
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 : HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and methods for measuring environmental parameters are disclosed. The apparatus, system, and methods can be used for a variety of applications, including HVAC air balancing and building commissioning. The system includes a variety of wireless sensing modules and wearable modules for control, display, and storage. Parameters measured include air and water temperature, pressure, velocity, and flow. Also included are sensors for light intensity, CO concentrations, and CO2 concentrations.

Claims

1. A system for displaying the results of multiple measurements of air and water properties from separate and remote sensors, comprising

(a) a control module comprising a display and a wireless transceiver;

and

(b) a plurality of sensor modules, wherein each sensor module comprises sensing means and a wireless transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1 in which measurement results of multiple types from multiple locations is available to the user on the same display screen for comparing and contrasting and achieving the best understanding about the status of the environment as quickly as possible.

3. The system of claim 1 in which measurement data are available to the user on head-mounted displays and/or annunciated by headphones or earbuds.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the user can store data in the control module wirelessly by closing a remote switch on a separate module rather than reaching to touch the control module'"'"'s keypad.

5. The system of claim 1 in which the user can control key aspects of the system by voice commands.

6. The system of claim 1 in which multiple team members can use display and/or audio modules to see or hear the same data as coworkers.

7. The system of claim 6 in which team members can receive information via wearable display and/or audio modules for wrist, head, or elsewhere on their body as is convenient to the task at hand.

8. The system of claim 1 in which the same wireless method as is used to transmit the measurement results can also be used to transmit voices from one wireless module to another like a walkie-talkie.

9. The system of claim 1 in which data can be stored manually or automatically at user-set intervals or automatically at the fastest rate offered by each particular sensor.

10. The system of claim 1 in which all of the data required for a particular application is gathered and presented to the user concurrently for viewing and/or storage.

11. The system of claim 1 in which the sensors have mechanisms for attachment to specific building fixtures for indefinite in-situ measurements.

12. Apparatus for performing a duct traverse, comprising

(a) a grip part for holding traditional Pitot tubes, and

(b) an electronics sensing part integrated into the grip part, and

(c) means for collecting duct temperature and humidity data via the system in (1) for adjusting the velocity calculations for different air densities, and

(d) means for measuring duct velocity and duct static pressure simultaneously, and

(e) means for displaying velocity, pressure, temperature, humidity, density, duct size, and airflow nearly simultaneously via the system in (1).

13. Apparatus for measuring face velocity, comprising

(a) traditional grid-type probe having leading edge and trailing edge pressure plenums, and

(b) an electronic pressure sensing module having means of attachment and connection to said plenums without dangling tubes, and

(c) a grip for holding grid-type probe at the ideal height for user visibility, and

(d) the system in (1) for collecting and providing temperature, humidity, and density data to the user along with velocity data.

14. Apparatus for measuring airflow at diffusers, comprising

(a) capture hood with skirt, base, and grid-type probe having leading edge and trailing edge pressure plenums, and

(b) an electronic pressure sensing module having means of attachment and connection to said plenums, and

(c) the system in (1) for collecting and including actual values of temperature and optionally humidity as well as barometric pressure in the equation used to calculate velocity and airflow, and

(d) the system in (1) for providing the user with optional displays which include all of the information required by the application, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and density, as well as airflow, and

(e) the system in (1) for making continuous measurements from one or more air inlets or outlets in multiple locations and displaying them at the point of control, together with other information of interest such as duct static pressure and room-to-room differential pressure.